Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-07-29

tin bucket which he saw lying on the
ground, and was just starting with il
toward the well when he was rudely
shaken by the collar, and heard a voice
say: "What are you doing here. I'll
teach you to set fires to burn up folks in
their beds, you black rascal"
"I-l-I never d-d-done it, " said Gen.
eral, his teeth chattering with the shak-
ing and terror. "L-l-let me gom He
tried in vain to tear himself from the
powerful grasp of his accuser.
"I'll let you go-to Jail, as soon as
there's chance" " replied the man, as he
pushed General into a small shed, and
closed the door.
There was but one window to the
shed, and that was near the roof, too
high for him to think of reaching. He
flung himself against the door again and
again; but it had been securely fastened
on the outside.
'Sin an ignorance done conquer dis
time, sho' nuff," soliliquized General,
mournfully. He felt that there was
small chance of his story being believed.
The pretty lady whom he had meant to
serve would think that he set the fire.
As the sound of the hurry and con-
fusion without increased, a new fear
came to him. Perhaps the house would
burn down, and the shed would catch
fire, and he would be left to perish in tho
flames. He shouted several times; but
his voice, if heard was not needed. At
last, the more subdued tones and slower
movements indicated that all danger was
over.
Day was beginning to dawn when the
| she'd door was opened, and General was
summoned forth, to confront the crowd
of men and boys who had assembled at
the alarm.
Perhaps he ought to have looked nobly
heroic and confident in the consciousness
of innocence; but candor compels the
admission that, as he stood there in his
ragged coat, the encouragement and
misery in his face and attitude might
have been mistaken for the evidence of
guilt.
"Why, it's Nose Stubbss boy" ex,
claimed a bystander. Il allus knew
they was a low-down family; but l
didn't s'pose none of 'em would do such
a thing"
"You all avoided mighty narrer.
escape" said another, in tones which
Gen5ral fanc;ed had familiar harshness.
eff hadn't "a seen the fire jest as did,
nothing wouldn't "a saved yer"
"Why, General, is this you" ex.
claimed a surprised voice. 1t was the
pretty lady, who with others had just
advanced to look at the supposed in
candiary.
"Yes, miss, that's the boy that set the
fire." replied the former speaker.
"No, miss, please miss, never done
it," pleaded the lad, as he met the dis
tressed, plying eyes of the lady. 81
was trying to 'stinguish it."
"How came you here at that time OF
nights" demanded one of the men.
General looked at his accuser in a con-
fused, timid manner and made no reply.
The pretty lady saw that he was
frightened, and stepping closer to him,
said, kindly: II don't believe you did it,
General. You'll tell me the whole truth,
will you not2"
Thus encouraged, and aided by many
questions, General related the whole
story of the night. When the narrative
was finished, the man who had been SO
loud in his accusations was missing. HG
had said something about being in a
hurry to get to his work, and had hur.
ried away.
Generals tale was not at first received
with confidence by all his hearers. Some
of them even doubted the possibility of
his getting into the gun; but that obiec-
tion was easily removed by his repeating
the man9uvre in the presence of wit
nesses. The sudden disappearance OF
his accuser, who was never seen again in
thai region, was another point in his
favor, and when the last suspicion was
cleared away, General found himself tho
hero of the occasion.
He was provided with a new suit OF
clothes, and sent to school, where he was
a dilligent and faithfulpup
The Stubs family have long age
moved from their leaning cabin on the
shore to neat and commodous cottage
on higher ground; and General, as
farmer, teacher and preacher, with spade,
spelling book and sermon, is battling
manfully against sin and ignorance
among his people - Youths Companion.